Scarified or hollow tined ?

[Deleted member 1147]

Just wondering what has been done at your clubs this year?

Most courses I've been to, and the one I've just joined for next year onwards, have had the greens scarified to break down the thatch that grows under the surface. The effect has been thin lines across the greens that were sanded/top soiled and the initial "damage" to the course wasn't too obvious, and within a couple of weeks were pretty much back to normal.

My current course has opted for the hollow tine approach leaving big holes in the greens and, over a month later, still shows where the holes were as the grass hasn't grown properly over the old holes.

So what have your clubs done, does it appear that my club has done the wrong thing, or has it just been unfortunate that the weather changed so much after it was done?

 

[fundy]

Ours were tined much earlier in the year, heavily sanded and returned to good condition relatively soon after. They have now been scarified about 10 days ago again are recovering well. In between they were excellent almost all summer and they will keep us on them all winter (if the course is open). For what we pay they do an excellent job, especially being on clay soil

 

[Deleted member 1147]

We had hollow tining earlier in the year as well, but the recent work at other courses I've played was the scarifying rather than tining again, like we've had.

 

[patricks148]

We had hollow tining earlier in the year as well, but the recent work at other courses I've played was the scarifying rather than tining again, like we've had.

ours get Hollow tined at the end of Oct last year and they just don't recover till June this year and we didn't even that bad a winter.

They did some experiments with a new machine that is sim to a Verticut, but injects Kiln dried sand into the cuts on the practice green and the 9 hole course. These recovered almost straight away, so they are going to do it on the Championship course the end of this month.

we shall see

 

[Twire]

We had ours scarified about a month ago, we didn't just have the fine lines down the green they also scarified again at 90 degrees so we had greens that had a chequered effect. I believe there going to pencil tine them this month.

 

[DCB]

We hollow tined three weeks ago and top dressed accordingly. Last weekend although the holes were still visible, they were coming together nicely and the greens putted reasonably well. Earlt season and late season for hollow tining and micro tining during the growing season are all making a big difference to the quality of the greens in an ongoing programme.

 

[StrangelyBrown]

Our green staff began tining and sanding on Monday this week.

Truth be told, I was a bit annoyed, because they weren't supposed to start until Tuesday. My Dad and I were playing in the final of the family foursomes, booked specifically for Monday afternoon so that we could play on decent greens. We lost :angry:

Anyways, I reckon that they should also be doing a mid summer tining like they do at Duddingston, their greens are amazing, but trying to tell our membership that they need to lose 2 summer medals for the greater good of the course is like farting against thunder.

 

[SGC001]

They do different jobs and greens have different needs, depending on their makeup, condition and climate they are subjected too.

Scarifying is usually thatch removal as you indicate, coring tends to help with compaction and the coring work can be of different sizes.

Your green keeper will likely have a program, they tend to take soil samples have them tested and work out what is needed for their courses demands and needs and will base their program around that. It often involves a compromise o sorts as the best time for doing work is usually the time people aren't wanting work done (main season).

Do either of those clubs publish a greens maintenance program for the year or have a forum for the green keeper and members / greens committee who can answer that for you? If not approach your pro and see if he can find out for you.

Edit: The coring may help keep your greens in play more often during the winter as golfers seem to be demanding that more of courses.

 

[Foxholer]

They do different jobs and greens have different needs, depending on their makeup, condition and climate they are subjected too.

Scarifying is usually thatch removal as you indicate, coring tends to help with compaction and the coring work can be of different sizes.

OP demonstrates why comms from Greenies can help.

There are loads of different types of 'maintenance' that can be/is used a combat/prevent particular issues.

Greens actually need to have somnething like 10% of the soil removed each year and Hollow Coring/Tining is the best way to achieve this.

@P148. I knew a Senior Pro who was involved with a company that does something along the lines you describe. Cores (and fills) and repairs so course is playable immediately - after a little tidying - doing 9 holes a day I think. Pretty expensive to do though. He's now doing that in South Africa - he's a Zimbo - having got a good deal on the franchise.

 

[USER1999]

Ours are being hollow cored in about ten days time. It's on the notice board. They do it every October. The last few years our greens have been fantastic though, so I guess it needs doing, and they are getting it right. By mid October, the season is pretty much over, so they can do what they want really. It's a pain, but a necessary evil.

 

[HawkeyeMS]

Ours have probably had more work that most due to the course manager having to get rid of the moss problem he was left. We had Graden work done in May to remove thatch and tining done in August as well as other work throughout the year. After all the work the visible signs had gone within a few weeks.

 

[One Planer]

Ours are tinned and dressed on the Monday after the last comp of the season.

So that'll be next Monday then

Our greens suffer from thatch, which when there is excess moisture, causes the greens to take an age to dry out.

We have had, up to yet, 6 greens lifted and completely re-laid to remove this issue. We have it planned on another 3 greens over the winter, along with course lengthening work, and is an ongoing project with the goal of keeping us on proper greens all year round as opposed to temps' in winter when the greens are just too soft to walk on let alone play on.

 

[GreiginFife]

Ours get done as and when required. Having 3 loops of 9 means that one can be taken aside and treated as required before being rerturned to the fold and another taken out. Rotation of the "designated 18" happens quite regularly to aid the management of the course.
Best part is that you can still play the treated 9 as the casual course as you accept that it's going to have work done to it.

 

[the smiling assassin]

Our green staff began tining and sanding on Monday this week.

Truth be told, I was a bit annoyed, because they weren't supposed to start until Tuesday. My Dad and I were playing in the final of the family foursomes, booked specifically for Monday afternoon so that we could play on decent greens. We lost :angry:

Anyways, I reckon that they should also be doing a mid summer tining like they do at Duddingston, their greens are amazing, but trying to tell our membership that they need to lose 2 summer medals for the greater good of the course is like farting against thunder.

Why don't you just join duddingston then?!
FYI there was no summer tining at duddy this year, just April and beginning September. Recovery very quick from September maintenance. Played there today and the greens were terrific.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Ours have probably had more work that most due to the course manager having to get rid of the moss problem he was left. We had Graden work done in May to remove thatch and tining done in August as well as other work throughout the year. After all the work the visible signs had gone within a few weeks.

He has done a good job although I did notice a few greens starting to show signs of reinfestation of moss. Sure he has it under control and has a plan